As the first few cases of HIV infection of the country were reported in 1986 the Manipur State Government also took serious note of the problem and initiated a series of important measures to tackle the epidemic. With the formation of the high-powered National AIDS Committee in 1986 and as it launched its National AIDS Control Programme in 1987, Manipur immediately set up a State AIDS Committee under the chairmanship of Chief Minister. State AIDS Cell was established in the State Health Directorate under the supervision of one medical officer.

AIDS has emerged as a new and serious public health emergency in Manipur. The first HIV positive case in Manipur was reported in February 1990 from the blood samples of October 1989 among a cluster of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs). The State AIDS Policy was adopted by the State Government on 3rd October, 1996 and became the first State in India to have a State AIDS Policy. The Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) was formed and registered in March, 1998 and since then the Society has been implementing the AIDS Control Programme in the State.

Manipur is one of the six high prevalence states in India with HIV prevalence rate among pregnant women attending ANC being 1.4% (Sentinel Surveillance 2006). Manipur with hardly 0.2% of India's population is contributing nearly 8% of India's total HIV positive cases. More and more interior and hill areas are affected and yet to be covered.

Manipur state AIDS Control Society has accorded the title of Brand Ambassador of HIV/AIDS to Mr. Khundrakpam Pradipkumar, recently crowned Mr. Manipur (60 kg wt), who has been living with HIV for over a decade now. He has also been selected among the six finalists in the Mr. India contest held in Meerut (UP) in last week of March. His mission as an Ambassador is to take a leading role in spreading HIV/AIDS messages to people, particularly the PLHAs to motivate them to ‘live and achieve’ even with HIV in them.